In 1963, I was still just a babe in arms, barely off the floor, but that year something happened that is my earliest memory. Mom and Dad had gathered up enough capitol and credit to buy a place, 104 acres of prime West Virginia mountain top, which was dubbed "Pumpkin Knob". By the time we got moved in, fixed what needed to be fixed to survive the winter, and laid in some supplies, we were pretty broke.
If I may describe the place, starting at the foot of the hill, there was kind of a 2 mud track road that snaked up the side of the hill that was extremely steep at places. Plus it only took 3 drops of rain on a cigarette paper to make it slick as snot on glass! You topped out the hill after about a mile of this steep climb to a saddle back (level spot between mountain peeks) where the house and barns sat. The house was a bit 2 story affair, very solid, but kind of drafty. We had a well behind the house, and a hand pump. Out baths were in a 10 gauge tub in front of our wood stove. Kitchen was also had a wood stove for cooking. The bathroom was a 1 holer about 70 feet from the back door. Anyway, it was kind of primitive.
That winter was cold, as most West Virginia winters are, and wet.=2 0It was an adventure just getting up and down that driveway, and many times I found myself praying that we would make it just one more time. The snows came and it was getting close to Christmas. Now I didn’t know how bad things were, but my older siblings have since told me just how much Mom and Dad sacrificed just to have any Christmas at all, but I remember it was a good one. We all got shoes (for school) and that’s kind of a hard times staple as when your struggling, shoes don’t come easy. There was turkey and a small ham, plenty of taders and maders and such, greens and dried fruit... and moms pies. I'm privileged to still have Mom, but her pie making days have passed and thats such a shame, it honestly makes me almost cry, they were so darn good!
So, it was gonna be a hard candy Christmas, but it was OK. The only thing we really were missing was ............ a farm dog. We had a neighbor lady that was kind of plain and quiet. She seemed to me to be a million years old, but I know she wasnt much past middle age. She was a widow, but her husband and parents had all been merchants and she was in comfortable shape. She had herd about us needing a dog, and on Christmas night, wind blowing and snow well over 2 feet deep, she attempted that road. She made it about half way before she just gave up, turned her truck off, and, dressed in a Santa suit, beard, hat and sack, started her trudge up that mountain.
We were sitting in=2 0the living room, presents opened and our meal digesting in out stomachs, when there was a knock at the door. Mom answered (neither she or Dad knew that Ms. Hamerick was going to do this) and when she saw Santa standing there, she gave a startled "Oh my goodness!" and asked Santa in. Santa came in,. winded from the exertion, and sat next to the fire. Then with bright eyes and a deep voice, Santa spoke to each of us children.
Were we good children? Yes, Santa, we try to be.
Are you happy in your new home? Oh yes Santa! We love this place!
the questions went on till finally....
What do you want for Christmas children?
Santa, we really really, really want a dog!
And with that, Santa lifted the bag and spilled out onto the living room floor, a beautiful collie puppy. Her name became Christy (for she was our Christmas miracle) and she was my first and best friend.
I wish I could see Hazel Hamerick now, for as a child, I was never told anything but that was Santa. Hazel, thank you and God bless you for that wonderful warm memory. You are loved always.
